Author Archives: Jonathan Brownfield

Experience the Future of Luxury with the Mercedes EQS 580 SUV

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Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the EQS 580 4MATIC SUV, the first all-electric SUV from the German automaker. The EQS 580 4MATIC is a luxurious, all-electric SUV that offers a range of up to 280 miles, a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds, and a host of advanced technologies.

The EQS 580 4MATIC is powered by a dual-motor system with a combined output of 516 horsepower and 611 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain is capable of propelling the vehicle from 0-60 mph in just 4.9 seconds, while the top speed is electronically limited to 130 mph. The EQS 580 4MATIC also features a battery pack with an estimated range of up to 280 miles on a single charge.

In terms of design, the EQS 580 4MATIC features a sleek and modern exterior with a low-slung profile and bold styling. The interior is equally impressive, with a luxurious cabin with high-quality materials and a host of advanced technologies. The EQS 580 4MATIC features a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display, a head-up display, and a wireless charging pad.

The EQS 580 4MATIC also features a number of advanced driver-assistance systems, such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and a semi-autonomous driving mode. Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with a number of safety systems, such as automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

Overall, the Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC is a luxurious and powerful all-electric SUV that offers a range of up to 280 miles and a host of advanced technologies. With its impressive performance and advanced features, the EQS 580 4MATIC is sure to be a popular choice for luxury SUV buyers.

The 2023 Lincoln Corsair Can Even Get a Wow from Style-Savvy Design Snobs with Annoyingly Impeccable Taste

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At first glance, the 2023 Lincoln Corsair’s exterior strikes an impossibly perfect balance between a sporty utility vehicle that is sure to comfortably get you and all your passengers to the next great adventure, and an elegantly appointed modern SUV sure to set you apart from the rest and show off your great design taste. As you know from our reviews, our team certainly checks out a lot of great SUV options, so when one stands out from the rest as a designated looker, you can be sure some dedicated thought went into more than just its performance – though the Lincoln Corsair is well-equipped in this arena as well, to be sure! With its advanced suspension system and powerful 2.0L turbocharged I-4 engine, the Corsair is designed to provide a great and reliable ride you can count on whether you’re taking it out for a sprint or a marathon. The superb ride quality you get in this exceptionally designed SUV is so relaxingly smooth it can (and did!) put a finicky 1-year-old out for their much-needed nap time, and lets drivers and passengers let go of all their cares to enjoy a meditatively relaxing ride. All this combined with its other awesome features, such as the intuitive technology tools, and advanced safety features designed and implemented to ensure everything you want from a driving experience is available for you to make the most of your trip with as little hassle as possible, the Corsair is sure to be one of the most popular cars on the market in 2023.

Besides standing out in terms of its packaging, and going above and beyond to deliver an enjoyable ride, the Lincoln Corsair also offers plenty of cabin room and cargo space, making it a great choice for those who need to transport larger items or need plenty of room for all their family and friends. Passengers inside the cabin are sure to feel super comfortable in this spacious design, which offers plenty of legroom to stretch out comfortably, and headroom to create an open and luxurious feel. The cargo space is also generous, allowing you to easily fit everybody’s luggage, even when the whole squad totally overpacks for a weekend get-together. Besides being a comfort-forward choice, the Lincoln Corsair is also an unquestionably luxurious vehicle offering a beautiful interior with upscale designs and materials, such as the real leather upholstery throughout the cabin. The classic wood trim and chrome accents tastefully appointed throughout the cabin combine to create an elegant atmosphere that combines an old-school luxury feeling with a sleek and modern twist. Beyond the cabin’s well-appointed cosmetic design, the Lincoln Corsair also combines excellent luxury convenience options such as heated seats, power-adjustable pedals, dual-zone climate control, and other features designed to perfect your driving experience.

Technology options in the Lincoln Corsair also offer everything necessary for a ride that is sure to put you totally at ease. The Intuitive infotainment center offers a wide range of features, such as voice recognition, navigation, and music streaming designed to keep every aspect of your driving experience safely in your control. The intuitive infotainment center also allows drivers to access their favorite apps with ease, allowing them to stay connected while on the go, creating a totally seamless infotainment system. Our music-loving team was also super appreciative of the insanely high-quality sound system that can actually do justice to its most beloved beats. 

We’ll wrap things up with the Lincoln Corsair’s respectable mileage specs, getting 22/mpg in the city, and 29/mpg on the highway. As you can clearly tell by this doting review, we think the 2023 Lincoln Corsair is a great buy that is sure to be enjoyed, and deserves to be admired. We recommend it for anyone interested in a classic SUV with an exceptionally supple ride, and especially for style-savvy drivers who have an appreciation for great design.  

The Infiniti QX50 Screams “Best” When Compared to All the Rest!

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The 2023 Infiniti QX50 is the perfect car for anyone looking for a luxurious and high-performing vehicle. From its sleek exterior design to its cutting-edge technology, the QX50 is sure to turn heads. The interior of the car is spacious and comfortable, making it a great car for long trips or everyday commuting. The engine provides plenty of power while still being efficient enough to save money on gas. On top of that, the advanced safety features ensure that you and your passengers are always safe on the road. All in all, the 2023 Infiniti QX50 is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable and luxurious car.

Our team was super impressed with this SUV’s exquisite interior, which is designed to provide a comfortable and luxurious ride. From the plush semi-aniline leather upholstery to the high-tech features such as the generous 7-8 inch touch screen display, the Infiniti QX50 is well equipped with everything you need for a comfortable journey. We were especially appreciative of the noticeable attention to detail and craftsmanship, intuitive controls, and advanced infotainment systems. These great touches were all so well-appointed, passengers should beware that this is a driving experience that could ruin you for all other vehicles. Its stylish interior features premium materials and plenty of space for passengers to relax in comfort superior to most others both in and above its weight class. 

With such luxurious attention to detail, our team was absolutely lead astray when we played our favorite “guess the price” game to see who could most closely guess the Infiniti QX50’s starting price point. The Infiniti QX50 is a total bargain considering its business-class look and feel and great driving experience. Starting at around $40,000, this automotive knockout is also more than just a “pretty face,” packing a respectably powerful 2.0 L 4-cylinder engine that can deliver a smooth and steady ride at any speed. 

With a host of safety features such as forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, traffic sign recognition, and more, you can be sure to keep everybody safe with this thoughtfully designed vehicle featuring the kind of tech-savvy solutions to create a secure driving experience. Whether you’ll only be on the road for a short trip to the store, or you’re commuting long-distance for an enduring road trip, the Infiniti QX50 is a smart choice to get you there safely. In addition to great aesthetics, the inside cabin also features plenty of luxury touches that make this car stand out from the competition. From heated leather seats to a panoramic sunroof, the Infiniti QX50 has all the features you need for an enjoyable driving experience.It’s clear the luxurious interior cabin was a favorite with our team, but we can’t leave out the equitably appealing exterior design, which features a sleek exterior body model with sophisticated lines to give it a modern look sure to turn heads wherever you go. Beyond looks alone, the aerodynamic shape is not-for-nothing for the Infiniti QX50’s pretty reasonable mileage stats of 23/mpg in the city, and 29/mpg on the highway. Accentuating this sleek and modern look, the bold grille and LED headlights add to the Infiniti QX50’s unique character and stylish appeal. We really can’t say enough about this stylish, smart, and overall standout choice for an SUV. Totally check it out if you’re on the hunt for a great SUV and want to get the best-of-the-best experience with every trip you take! 

The 2023 Hyundai Elantra N Delivers a Performance Driving Experience that is Downright Zen

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The 2023 Hyundai Elantra N is the latest addition to the Elantra family, (a quick note for the uninformed aficionados, “N” is Hyundai new motorsport division, and is akin to the BMW M division, Mercedes’ AMG division, and Porsche’s GT division). They build race cars for the track and road. This awesome sports sedan offers a great combination of power, style, and economy, and with its powerful turbocharged engine, sporty design, and fuel-efficient features, the Elantra is sure to impress even the most discerning drivers. At first sight, our team was a big fan of its sharp and seamless exterior styling, which gives it a great modern look. The exterior wow-factor combined with performance-driven engine specs, and budget-proof starting price, the 2023 Hyundai Elantra N hands-down one of the best and most economical sports sedans on the market today.

Equipped with a powerful 276 horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, the Elantra N has some extremely peppy pipes that create a great driving experience that feels really energetic. It’s gas mileage is respectable, with the Elantra N expected to achieve 22/mpg in the city, and 31/mpg on the highway. Our test vehicle had an 8-speed lighting-quick dual-clutch transmission, so even the smallest adjustments felt super responsive; driving this vehicle at times almost felt like a team-effort between the driver and the car. The stylish interior with thoughtfully designed details, such as the leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, all felt like they were crafted with the driver in mind, making the whole experience of being in the cabin feel like an intuitive luxury escape. The super adjustable, heated seats add a nice comfort-forward touch that will make you like this car even more than you did already. 

The adjustable exhaust is fun to play with and gives the driver a great feeling of having end-to-end control of their vehicle like an electric guitarist kicking up their sound strategy with a responsive pedalboard. The adjustable exhaust enhancement really offers a new level of driver engagement that for a $32k car like the Elantra N is a luxuriously high-quality feature. All in all, the generally great drive and supped-up features like this made the car both thrilling to drive aggressively and a pleasure to cruise around in. It’s easy to see why the Elantra N is Hyundai’s homologated race car for the road. The factory, as well as customer racing teams race them (and win) in IMSA’s Pro-Level TCR class in the Michelin Pilot Sport Challenge. Driving around in our test car definitely felt like breaking off a piece of that winning experience. 

With a team rating of 10/10-would drive again, we can confidently say that the Elantra N is an impressive vehicle that provides drivers with a luxurious driving experience at an affordable price. It is equipped with a powerful engine, stylish exterior, and comfortable interior. The way the exhaust sounds and the car drives combined make it seem like it should be priced much higher than its starting price of around $32k. In fact, many people compare it to the BMW M series cars which cost up to $60k.

Joining the Exclusive World of Porsche GT

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After 20+ years of wanting, 5+ years of savings, 2+ years of searching, and 9 months of waiting, I am now officially a member of the Porsche GT club. My ticket in is a custom ordered 2022 718 GT4. While it is not really a club, getting your hands on a brand-new Porsche GT car is harder than getting into most country clubs. Here is why, and my journey to getting my dream car:

Porsche’s GT road car division is headed by Andy P, aka “Mr GT.” His job is to take Porsche sport cars and make them into street-legal race cars for the road. His partner in crime is Thomas L, who leads Porsche’s Motorsport division and is responsible for the race cars you see on TV. Think 24 Hours of LeMans, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and the 12 Hours of Sebring. The two teams work together to create near identical cars for different purposes: one that is street legal and one that will be raced competitively. This required process works in harmony because FIA rules dictate that GT-class cars have to be built based upon road going cars with limited modifications. I was told by several manufacturers that building race cars and their road going counterparts is a loss leader. “Most people buying $100k+ cars don’t want to daily or even weekend a track car, because they are terribly uncomfortable.” But manufacturers have to do it. The most recent GT marriages include the 911 GT2 RS and GT2 Clubsport, the 911 GT3 and GT3 Cup Car, the 718 GT4 and GT4 Clubsport. Both the street legal and race ready GT cars are likely not very profitable for Porsche because they are low-volume vehicles, but they represent a marketing play to get people to pay attention to brand through motorsports. Race GT cars on Sunday, sell regular cars/SUVs on Monday. This means that for the rest of us gear heads, we can get an insanely great track cars directly from manufacturers at a seemingly bargain price. A seemingly bargain price because true Porsche factory race cars designed for the World Endurance Championship will cost you $300,000+. This motorsports pedigree combined with the fact that all Porsche GT cars are limited production vehicles (even if they are not numbered), means that Porsche GT cars are the most sought after models in the 718 and 911 line up.

My journey towards GT ownership started when I was in high school, drooling over a Porsche race car (996 GT3) in a magazine. However it was only in the past few years that I started really thinking about getting one. I was on my first Porsche, a super low miles 986 Boxster S with RUF upgrades, but I was craving something more. Something faster around the race track and autocross circuits. The GT4 is what my heart desired because I like the modern mid-engine layout and Motorsport pedigree. As a racing aficionado, it is super cool to know what you are driving won a championship. I intend to do amateur auto racing with my GT4, so the motorsports pedigree is extra special. The GT4 costs $60k less than the GT3, however they both (991 GT3/RS) share suspension, brakes, drivetrain components. So in my book, it is the best bang for the buck Porsche you can get… if you can get one!

My first stop on the road to ownership was the closest Porsche dealership to my office. There, the salesman told me that I needed to be a long term high value Porsche GT customer for them to accept a custom order on a new GT4. He offered to sell me a used car instead. My next stop was the Porsche dealer closest to my house. There the salesman told me that he would sell me a GT4, but I need to give the dealership a $30k premium. Both dealers made me feel like I wasn’t worth their time. I proceeded to contact two more nearby dealers with similar answers. I asked a couple friends with GT cars about how they got there cars: one paid $100k over sticker to get his GT2 RS and the other was forced to buy his GT3 used.

By this time, I was thinking that buying a brand-new custom-ordered GT4 just wasn’t in the cards for me. I was even considering alternatives as I didn’t want a used car nor be price gouged. However a friend who works for a different automotive manufacturer suggested that I contact Jamie from Porsche Naples. Jamie was eager to make my custom order GT4 dream come true. He was transparent about the process and enthusiastic to talk to me. To top off the incredible experience, Jamie is also a true car enthusiast, so the buying process was like working with a friend versus a sales guy. Porsche Naples is located only a few miles from my Dad’s house, but I would travel cross country to replicate the buying experience at Porsche Naples.

In July of 2021, I pulled the trigger and placed a deposit on a 718 GT4. The next step was to play the waiting game for an allocation. Dealers get a limited amount of GT cars every year, so an allocation is Porsche’s way of saying we reserved a car for you. Every dealer get a different allocation set based upon sales history.

Four and half months passed when in November of 2021, Jamie called with the good news: You are getting a 2022 model allocation! I was beyond excited to be getting the vehicle. I had a good idea of the spec I wanted, but Jamie also made valuable recommendations to enhance the car’s appearance. For instance he convinced me to get yellow seat belts to match the yellow door straps. Looking back, I am really glad I checked that option box! What I ordered is a bespoke car with wheels, seats, interior trim, stitching, and materials tailored to my tastes. And of course being a GT car, pretty much all of the performance options were standard equipment.

Shortly after getting my allocation notice, I received an email from Porsche with a link to track my build. The tracker detailed every step of my car’s journey, from building to delivery. The Porsche Tracker website and app made the order process more enjoyable because I could get semi-real time updates on my car. Whereas when ordering cars from other manufacturers, I had to bug the dealer to get updates. On the flip side, the Porsche Tracker made the wait seem longer because I was constantly thinking about the car. The app also estimates your delivery timeline, so you are just counting down the days.

Photos of my actual GT4 being built in Stuttgart

In January of 2022, when my car was finally being built, I received photos of it moving along the assembly line. If you ever had a child, I equate these photos to the ultrasound images. You know the little guy is there, but you can’t quite hug him yet.

Fast forward to March, and my 2022 Porsche 718 GT4 finally arrived the dealer. It was on a Saturday, which meant that I had to wait until Monday for Porsche Naples to clean the car and do a final pre-delivery inspection. That Saturday and Sunday was like the night before Christmas; I couldn’t sleep in anticipation. When Monday, the delivery day, finally arrived, it was a surreal experience. I was almost shaking as I couldn’t believe my eyes. My very own, custom-ordered, Porsche 718 GT4 was ready to go home. Driving it off of the dealer lot was magical.

At the time of writing this story, I have owned the car for 5 days. It feels infinitely more special than I anticipated with its aggressive stance and rear wing. It is still being broken in, so I haven’t floored it, but I can tell that this GT4 is ready to roar. The 4.0L naturally aspirated flat-six engine sounds incredible putting around town, the dual-clutch transmission shifts in a blink of an eye, the steering is incredibly precise, and the car hugs corners like their is no tomorrow. I will be taking the car to its first track day in May at the famous Sebring Raceway, where it will really shine. After all, it was born to be a track car. I also plan on racing it in the Street Racing Made Safe Autocross Series Presented by Cosmo Tires at Homestead Miami Speedway.

What is odd is that I have tested multiple Porsche GT cars over the years as a journalist, including a GT3 RS on track, but this little GT4 beats all of them with excitement… maybe because it is mine 🙂

I want to send a big thank you to Jamie at Porsche Naples for helping me make my GT dream come true, as well as to Andy Preuninger (aka “Mr GT”) for developing such an enjoyable machine.

Note: I did not receive any compensation from Porsche Naples, Jamie, or Porsche North America for writing this article. I am simply a huge fan of their dealership after they helped me secure my dream car.

BMW M3 Competition Review

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“M,” the single most important letter in the BMW alphabet. The letter carries such heavy weight because it represented BMW’s Motorsport and performance devision. M cars set the performance standard for sedans, 4 passenger coupes, and SUVs around the world. Historically, M cars were built to go racing. Manufacturers, such as BMW, needed to create road going race cars in order to meet homologation standards, and that is exactly what the 2022 BMW M3 Competition represents – a road going race car.

While the M3 Competition Coupe might look similar to other 4-series cars from BMW, it is not. Under the hood is a 503 horsepower 3.0L twin-turbo inline-6 engine that will jet you from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. It is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, which is quick to shift, but it would be quicker if BMW offered it as a dual-clutch. With the M badge, you also get massive brakes, an aggressive suspension setup, motorsports derived differential. All of this comes standard at a starting price of under $80,000.

The danger of this hard-core BMW is that it begs to be driven hard. Every twisty road or highway on-ramp left me with a huge grin on my face. It is one of the few cars that still makes me want to take the long way when coming home after work.

My test vehicle featured an performance inspired interior that equally matched the BMW M3’s performance benchmarks. Carbon fiber, leather, aluminum, and performance textile seat inserts. This combination enhances the race car for the road feel you get when driving the BMW M3

The closest competitors to the M3 are the Audi RS5 and Porsche 718 GT4. The BMW M3 is quicker in a straight line, it is more practical with 4 doors and 4 seats, plus it costs less to purchase new. The GT4 on the other hand is more fun to drive, but not nearly as practical. The Audi RS5 is more comfortable than the M3, but it lacks the performance benchmarks and handling characteristics of the M3.

As an ultimate daily driver, the 2022 BMW M3 Competition takes the cake! It fits four adults comfortably and it can keep up with super cars around a race track.

The Corvette C7 Z51 vs C8 Z51: The comparison is Night & Day

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The saying “newer is always better” rings true more than ever with the 2022 mid-engine Corvette (C8). Chevrolet broke decades of tradition by moving the engine from the front to the middle of the Corvette, but it made this evolutionary change for all the right reasons: performance, performance, performance. The Corvette, “America’s Sports Car,” has almost always relied on a big beefy V8 to win races: endurance, road course sprints, and drag races. They favored raw horsepower over modern engineering to dominate competitors such as Porsche and Ferrari. But now with the C8’s mid-engine layout plus a dual-clutch transmission, the standard Corvette has the horsepower plus the technology. In case you are unaware, the reason why the mid-engine design is so crucial is because moves the vehicles center of mass from the front of the car to the middle of the car. This allows for better rotation and more rear tractions, thus allowing you to go around a corner faster and accelerate faster.

During my most recent test of the C8 Corvette Z51, I had the pleasure of also re-testing the front-engine C7 Corvette Z51. The Z51 bit indicates that this is semi track-ready version, with bigger brakes, better engine cooling, and more aggressive suspension. Both of these vehicles also had optional magnetic ride.

Right away, I noticed that the C8 was quicker off the line than the C7. The C8 does have 40 more horsepower and delivers lighting quick gear changes via the dual-clutch transmission, but having the bulk of weight over the rear wheels also means better traction. The rear wheels will spin when you smash the gas pedal, but they lock much quicker.

Around corners, the C8 feels more planted than the C7. The perfectly balanced platform allows the car to turn-in better and instills enhanced driver confidence. Do I dare say that the C8 is the first Corvette that actually handles well? By contrast, the C7 was more of a point and shoot car: heavy braking coming into the corner, rotate the car, then heavy acceleration. Where as with the C8, you don’t have to brake as hard because it simply glides around a corner.

You can learn more about the interior quality of the C8 Corvette by reading one of my previous reviews, but the most important thing to note is that the fit and finish of a C8 1LT base model is better than a C7 3LT luxury model.

The base price of a C8 Corvette is only a few thousand more than the cost of when the C7 was new, however you can expect to pay a premium when buying a 2022 Corvette because it is in such high demand. With the C8 Corvette, it is not just Corvette enthusiasts who are clamoring to buy one, but also for the first time, Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, Jaguar, and McLaren owners who want a super car they can daily drive.

2021 Car Of The Year: The Corvette Convertible

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America’s sports car… I mean super car… has earned it spots as my pick for 2021 Car Of The Year. Presenting the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible. It is by far the best car on the market for under $200,000, and due to supply shortages, it is more exclusive than a Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Porsche. In fact, shortly after testing the Corvette Convertible out for week and showing the car to my Father, he ordered one for his collection. Despite having a garage full of super cars and previously owning two legendary Corvette L88s, the dealer quoted him two years to get the car.

The long wait times to get a new Corvette is not solely due to the global chip shortage, but more so to do with demand. Chevrolet is stealing customers from European exotics in droves because the new mid-engine Corvette handles exceptionally well, has a 0 to 60 mph time of less than 3 seconds, and it has killer looks. A buddy of mine is replace his V10 Audi R8 with a Corvette *fingers crossed* later next year.

To top it off, with a starting price of ~$63,000, the new Corvette Stingray is bargain. You won’t find that kind of performance or looks anywhere south of $150,000. But what is even more of a bargain is the Corvette Convertible. For only $7,000 more you get a retractable hardtop with better noise, aerodynamics, and safety than a soft top convertible. For comparison, Ferrari charged a ~$20,000 premium for 488 customers to get a retractable hardtop. As a bonus, this new hardtop can go up and down in a matter of seconds while driving at speeds less than 30mph. So in states like Florida where sporadic summer rain storms are common, you can easily let the sun shine in between each rain shower. However my favorite part of the convertible top mechanism is the rear glass window. You can raise and lower the window with the top up, allowing you to get a nice breeze during hot summers while also staying cool in the shade.

Per my previous Corvette review, the new mid-engine Vette place drivers in a space-aged cockpit with an all digital instrument cluster and infotainment center. The steering wheel has a flat top and flat bottom design to make it easier to get in an out of the vehicle, as well as increase viewing points. It also just looks super cool! Driving the new Corvette Convertible delivers an experience akin to a super car versus a sports car. The 500 horsepower 6.2L V8 and dual clutch transmission backs up the Corvette’s pedigree, but it is much more than that. The Corvette feels special every time you take it out of the garage. And the convertible model feels even more special with the speedster hump positioned right in back of you head. It is a head turner in every possible way.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee Goes Luxury

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From the very beginning the Jeep Grand Cherokee was meant to be a bigger more luxurious version of the highly successful Jeep Cherokee. It served that purpose well, but myself, like most people never really considered the Grand Cherokee a luxury vehicle… until now. The 5th Generation Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L are able to go toe to toe with its European rivals from Mercedes, BMW, Land Rover, and Audi.

The endless cheap plastic trim on previous generations of the Grand Cherokee has been replaced by real wood and leather. And in places were plastic is used, it is a high quality plastic with a nice finish. Along with better construction materials inside (and out), the 5th Generation Jeep Grand Cherokee received updated styling befitting of a luxury car. The lines throughout this 3-row vehicle have been sharpened to give a bolder presence. The beautiful wood trim on the doors, dash, and steering wheel is obviously a strong center piece, but the beautiful 10-inch infotainment display really steals the show.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L rides and steers better than any Jeep before it. Bumps are mitigated and there is absolutely no sway at cruising speeds on the highway thanks to an independent multi-link air-suspension system.

My test car was the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland, and it was so good that my wife and I are considering buying one over a Range Rover Velar next year. The Jeep costs less and I think it is a nice car all around. The big question is if we should buy the 2-row or 3-row version.

The Audi Q5 Sportback Is More Of A Good Thing

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The trend now days to drive SUVs, but what do you get when you want to stand out from the crowd? The answer is simple, an Audi Q5 Sportback. It is nearly identical to the Q5, however the roof slopes more aggressively in the rear to give you coupe-like look. This small, but noticeable change makes the Q5 look very sexy.

Interior wise, it is still the same Q5 with standard leather seats, a high-tech looking instrument cluster, and intuitive controls. I really like Audi’s new design language, which I think will keep the Q5 looking modern for years to come.

Even with the structural change of having a sloped roof line, the Audi Q5 Sportback has just as good of visibility as the regular Q5. It is easy to navigate city streets, as well as park the vehicle. On two occasions, I had two full-size adults in the rear. Both passengers commented that they ample legroom and headroom, which is often times a major concern for couple-like SUVs. These same passengers commented on the lack of headroom in other press cars I recently drove.

There is a ~4,300 premium for the Audi Q5 Sportback, however you can’t put a price tag on style. It is also important to note that the Sportback comes with a number of optional features standard, so the price premium is negligible. Plus everything about this mid-size CUV/SUV feels extra special because of the roofline.